Need info on possible career change.

[Derrik Draven]

Well, I've been an aircraft maintenance technician for Delta Airlines for just over 16 years now. Last year was probably the highest amount of cash I'm ever going to make here. Just got 10 percent whacked from us on the 1st of this year, easily going to loose another 10 percent this year and, who knows what is going to happen to our company after we file bankruptcy sometime within the next year.

 

More paycuts, more benefit cuts...possibly going completely out of business.

 

As of right now, fixing these pain in the ass aircraft, isn't worth the money they pay me. That's without more paycuts!

 

Anyhoo...I've been into computers since my parents bought me an Apple II+, for xmas, back in '82. Why the hell I didn't pursue that instead of aircraft maintenance, is beyond me.

 

Well...I'm ready to pursue something...ANYTHING...in the computer field. I need to get trained and get the hell out of the airlines before I'm literally without a job.

 

Do any of you guys have the MCSE certification? That's Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. (not minesweeper champion: solitaire expert!)

 

There is a school, not far from me, offering the MCSE in 6 months training. This school is supposedly one of only a handful, in the states, that are endorsed by Microsoft themselves and that going to said schools, actually gives you an advantage in the I.T. field.

 

Anyone in I.T.? Is it worth it?

 

The website for this place is http://www.computertraining.com I aced the online test, the emailed me and had me come up for a visit to see the place and for a face to face chat. They throw all the "stats" about what jobs are needed and what people are wanted. They were going on about how MCSE and the I.T. field are at the top of the list of most wanted people and growing careers.

 

Well, that all sounds great. I really love the fact that I can get in and out of the school in 6 months. I like the fact that they have student placement services and that they are currently placing about 80 percent of their graduates.

 

They also went on to say that my experience with complex aircraft equipment and, tons of responsibility, will add even more to my chance of getting an I.T. job.

 

Still...the couple of people that I indirectly know, that are in this field, don't paint a pretty picture of the job prospects. Surfing the net seemed to indicate that there was one hell of a slump in jobs right after the "dot-bomb" of the 90's. Supposedly, it's picking up?

 

One seriously hard pill to swallow is that this 6 month Microsoft school costs 24000$. No, I didn't accidentally add an extra zero. 24 grand, baby! Yeeowch!!! I'd hate to have that kind of debt over my head and facing a dreary job market.

 

You know, not once...not one moment, have I EVER wanted to be an aircraft technician. It just sort of happened. Up 'till this point, the pay has been pretty decent, benefits were nice too.

 

That's ending. The industry I'm in is going to be obliterrated before it's over.

 

So...I just figured that if I'm going to start over again right before mid-life kicks in, I might as well do something I like...even if I'll never see that paycheck again, like I once did.

 

I've even thought of Full Sail, down in Winterpark, Florida, to go to school for computer game design.

 

I just need something that has a decent future, a decent paycheck, that's in the computer world.

 

Are any of you guys able to steer me in some sort of direction? I really don't know where else to turn for advice since really none of the guys I work with know dick about computers, or even want a career in them. Most of the guys I'm working with are planning on fixing cars if/when the airlines fall. Eh, not my thing.

 

This is actually pretty serious to me and, any help you guys can give is VERY MUCH appreciated! :rock

 

Thanks!

[dogbert]

Anyone in I.T.? Is it worth it?

 

IT is a highly competitive industry where you'll be up against people with a ton of experience & more qualifications than you.

 

I've even thought of Full Sail, down in Winterpark, Florida, to go to school for computer game design.

 

We have a few Full Sail graduates at my current job. It's a very expensive school, it has no guarantee of results, and your age is against you as design jobs are few & far between, resulting in a lot of its graduates going to entry level positions in the industry to try & work their way upto the level design/game design positions.

 

This is actually pretty serious to me and, any help you guys can give is VERY MUCH appreciated!

 

Good luck with the job change. A few mates in the games industry are going through similiar career crisis. At the end of the day, it makes like a lot easier if you can do a job that you enjoy to some degree vs just picking up a paycheque.

[Mark E]

At the end of the day, it makes like a lot easier if you can do a job that you enjoy to some degree vs just picking up a paycheque.

 

Yep, I cannot echo and agree with this sentiment enough.

 

I'm trying desperately to swap out of my current profession because after four years of university I have come to find I don't really like it. Luckily I have another degree so I can fall back on it, but I'm in a city where bilingualism is a pretty high priority and my French doesn't go much farther than 'ou est la toilette?' and 'bagel'.

 

I wish you all the best though, Derrik. Changing careers is a bitch, but I think you'll feel better in the long run. I know I've seen IT positions up here with the government, but as Brian points out it can be a slog to actually get into one these days.

[kelley]

As someone who has spent the last six+ years working in IT...don't do it.

 

As Brian mentioned the IT market is extremely cut throat. On average most Computer Science majors coming out of college are not getting jobs in the IT market and when they do its usually very low entry level work like help desk or QA tester. Even then more then likely the people who got that job got it becasue they know someone who already worked at that shop. I have two good friends with CS degrees and one of them is doing temp secretary work and the other works in a call center as a CSR.

[exile]

I will add to Kelly's post by mentioning that I know a guy whom just got a degree in Computer Science with loads of certifications and isn't getting any bites on his resume at all.

[Rob B]

Have you thought of sales as an option? this is what I do for A compamy called Fastenal just out colleage myself 28 and pulling in on avarge 2500 a moth with my base salary and commisions.

[Ryan FB]

I don't think paying $24000 and getting out with just an MCSE is anywhere near worth it. That pretty much goes for most of the "give us your money and you can be ultra-certified/have an associates degree in X months" places, such as ITT or DeVry...the people who can actually translate that into a successful career seem to be few and far between.

 

As mentioned before, IT has been and still is competitive. Like any other field, knowing about what contacts and opportunities are available to you can be important. Look around and see what jobs are in your area, and what kind of requirements they want.

 

I'm sort of in a similar position myself, I'm about to finish up my bachelor's in CS and I have to figure out where I want to go from here. I'm contemplating going for a Master's degree in CS (I went in to CS because I honestly enjoy the research aspects of it), or an MBA, but those will just prolong my having to make a real choice for a year or two. Damn you, life decisions.

[kelley]

I also would like to say one more thing about my experience with IT, it bottlenecks REALLY quick. I'm only 6 years into my career and I've already been "forced" into management. Basically I was at the height of my path techinically and had two options project management or people management, I personally choose people.

[Derrik Draven]

Well....thanx for the info so far, guys. Kind of depressing really. I absolutely hate the idea of jumping from one bad industry to the next one. ...and paying alot of money to do it, to boot!

 

Talk about not knowing what the hell to do.... :confused: I'm pretty decent at flying aircraft but, there is something like 9000 pilots currently on furlough here in the states. That's out the window too.

 

Any of you guys work for UPS? I could use a way in to that company. They pay their aircraft techs BIIIIIIIG bucks. They're immune to the majority of problems that a passenger airline gets whacked with.

 

Funny. All I read/hear/see is how our economy is going strong. Everything I personally am connected with, or would like to do, isn't worth a shit. Who are the people that are doing so great, and what are they doing for a living? :wtf

 

What are my fellow LCVG'ers doing for a living and, do you like your job? I need some ideas and, "sales" is out! I couldn't sell water to someone dying of thirst.

[Sam P]

I'm sorry if I'm detracting from your thread, Derrick, but this is related and there seems to be the experienced IT guys responding to this already.

 

Like you, I'm having a bit of a career/life decisions crisis.

 

I'm trying to get a Bsc with just one major: comp sci. I've been doing this for about 3 years (but only taking computer science requirements for 2 cause I didn't decide till 2nd year) and I'm starting to hate it.

 

The coding assignments I actually enjoy, because it feels like problem solving and I'm putting together a puzzle. The theory, not so much, especially the discrete math, complexity theory and the like. I'm very weak at math.

 

And I'm imagining sitting at an office doing this sort of thing for years and I don't think I can stomach it.

 

Since I've already spent so much time on it, should I just suck it up and finish it regardless? Or should I pursue something I'm actually good at? I'm actually good at artsy type classes like English, writing, philosophy, etc. but I went into science in the first place because I thought I would make good money afterwards. But it certainly isn't sounding that way now, especially for someone who would not graduate with above average grades, etc.

 

I just need some words of wisdom.

[Baiter]

I have to disagree with the people in this thread that are portraying the IT market to be so bleak. The IT industry as a whole was inflated due to Y2k and the dot com bubble and it's just now starting to settle back to normal. CS grads are making 44k-55k starting salary, I'm not sure what you make as an airline mechanic but 55k isn't a bad living, and that's just your first year. :tu

 

The market place isn't great right now, but you're not going to enter the market place for another 2-4 years, so picking a career move based on specific market conditions just seems silly to me. :confused:

 

Good luck to you, I'm a software developer and know and work w/ people in just about every computer position you might land, so if you have any questions about what your day to day activities might be feal free to fire away.

[Derrik Draven]

I have to disagree with the people in this thread that are portraying the IT market to be so bleak. The IT industry as a whole was inflated due to Y2k and the dot com bubble and it's just now starting to settle back to normal. CS grads are making 44k-55k starting salary' date=' I'm not sure what you make as an airline mechanic but 55k isn't a bad living, and that's just your first year. :tu

 

The market place isn't great right now, but you're not going to enter the market place for another 2-4 years, so picking a career move based on specific market conditions just seems silly to me. :confused:

 

Good luck to you, I'm a software developer and know and work w/ people in just about every computer position you might land, so if you have any questions about what your day to day activities might be feal free to fire away.[/quote']

 

From what I've been trying to glean from surfing, what you've stated seems to be what I've been reading elsewhere; that I.T. got hammered pretty badly after the dot-bomb but, it's getting better.

 

Just seems odd that IT ranks so high up (from what I've seen, number 1), on job/career websites, but yet it's being portrayed at a bleak industry.

 

You want bleak, try the airlines. :bh

 

45-55/year isn't bad at all. At the rate I'm going, I'll be down there in a few years, and if that's starting pay, it's pretty damn good! I'm getting tired of trying to save every dime to pay off this bill or that bill so that I can survive the next annual paycut.

 

Thanks for the info guys! :tu

 

I won't actively be seeking re-education 'till this time next year since my shift doesn't allow for much training anywhere. I'm stuck in it for the next year and, this gives me as much time as I can to research where I'd like to take my next chance for a different career, as far away as possible from passenger airlines.

[Darius]

I'm sorry if I'm detracting from your thread' date=' Derrick, but this is related and there seems to be the experienced IT guys responding to this already.

 

Like you, I'm having a bit of a career/life decisions crisis.

 

I'm trying to get a Bsc with just one major: comp sci. I've been doing this for about 3 years (but only taking computer science requirements for 2 cause I didn't decide till 2nd year) and I'm starting to hate it.

 

The coding assignments I actually enjoy, because it feels like problem solving and I'm putting together a puzzle. The theory, not so much, especially the discrete math, complexity theory and the like. I'm very weak at math.

 

And I'm imagining sitting at an office doing this sort of thing for years and I don't think I can stomach it.

 

Since I've already spent so much time on it, should I just suck it up and finish it regardless? Or should I pursue something I'm actually good at? I'm actually good at artsy type classes like English, writing, philosophy, etc. but I went into science in the first place because I thought I would make good money afterwards. But it certainly isn't sounding that way now, especially for someone who would not graduate with above average grades, etc.

 

I just need some words of wisdom.[/quote']

 

 

I feel you here Sam. I'm 28 I have about 1-2 years left on my BS in CS and this is just to get the job back that I had pre dot-bomb. I'm not so sure its what I want to do anymore but I can't find anything else I'd rather do. I hope there is a job out there when I finish. I think we're sharing a lot with how we're doing in our schooling. I do great in application classes. But I tend to lose focus on theory, alogrithms and the sort. Mainly my wife supports us right now and I work part time and go to school. It sucks and I just wish I still had my old job.

 

As for what you should pursue. I would say pursue what you have the greatest interest in. I'll stop babbling now.

[Sam P]

I feel you here Sam. I'm 28 I have about 1-2 years left on my BS in CS and this is just to get the job back that I had pre dot-bomb. I'm not so sure its what I want to do anymore but I can't find anything else I'd rather do. I hope there is a job out there when I finish. I think we're sharing a lot with how we're doing in our schooling. I do great in application classes. But I tend to lose focus on theory' date=' alogrithms and the sort. Mainly my wife supports us right now and I work part time and go to school. It sucks and I just wish I still had my old job.

 

As for what you should pursue. I would say pursue what you have the greatest interest in. I'll stop babbling now.[/quote']

 

Thanks for the insight, Darius.

 

I'm gonna go speak with an advisor next week and see what options I have.